While “floaters” are actually quite common, you’ll want to read Dr. Michelle’s entire explanation in the VSP EnVision Newsletter to understand why spots or floaters develop, the current treatments available for them, and when a visual disturbance warrants a trip to the optometrist.

As any parent knows, equipment — whether for team athletics, individual sports or even music — is expensive. And in tougher economic times, it can be harder than ever to outfit a team or child with the necessary gear to participate.

So when our contact lens rep from CooperVision stopped by this week and told us about a new grant program CooperVision is sponsoring as part of their “Life is a Contact Sport” initiative, we were instantly on-board with promoting it — especially since we know that so many of our clients have children who participate in athletics, group sports and band.

How It Works

Here’s how it works: CooperVision’s “Life is a Contact Sport” program will award ten $2,500 dollar “Gear Up Grants” to help winning teams, individual athletes/performers or communities “gear up” this season. The winners decide what gear they need.

To enter, all you have to do is have your teen register and submit their story in video or a series of photos on the CooperVision “Life is a Contact Sport” Gear Up Grant website. The subject of the story should be why your teen, their team, or the community should win a Gear Up Grant and what they would do with the money if they win.

Entries have to be submitted by September 30, 2010 and judging to choose the top 30 finalists takes place in early October. The finalists will then be posted to the “Life is A Contact Sport” website on October 18th, and visitors to the site will then get to vote on who they think should win the 10 grants.

Winners will be announced in early December.

What’s especially cool about this promotion is that CooperVision made it very inclusive: The Gear Up Grants don’t just apply to athletics — but other activities such as music or dance. So if you need to outfit your child or community band with instruments, you can apply for the grant as well.

Bonus! Prescription Sports Eyewear

Plus, any team member or performer who wears contact lenses or glasses will also be outfitted with CooperVision contact lenses for a full year. Submitting your story is a snap – just visit the CooperVision website to enter.

We’d love to see one of our patients win one of these 10 grants. Time is running on out this grant cycle so if you’re ready to Gear Up, get moving with your story!

Grab the Kids and Join Urban Optiques Sunday September 26 at the DIA for a day of Education and Fun at the 15th Annual Metro Parent Education Expo. It’s FREE!

Looking for something fun, educational and best of all — FREE — to do with the family and kids on Sunday afternoon?

How about joining Urban Optiques and more than sixty of the area’s top educational leaders at the Detroit Institute of Arts for the 15th Annual Metro Parent “Education Expo?”

The event, which runs from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, September 26, not only provides you with free access to dozens of interactive exhibits, but also let’s you DISCOVER the best opportunities for your children’s academic success from metro Detroit’s educational leaders! Even better, you can EXPLORE the exciting galleries at the Detroit Institute of Arts all for FREE.

The Urban Optiques Teamwill be on hand at booth #23 during the Metro Parent Education Expo with a cool, interactive display on optical illusions that is guaranteed to not only amaze, but also educate kids, moms and dads on how optical illusions work, and what they can tell us about our vision.

We’ll also be performing free vision screenings for the whole family, since studies show that vision problems are one of the leading reasons for poor academic performance among children and teens.

Finally, we’ll also be giving away lots of fun door prizes for attendees who enter our special drawing.